| The Yak's Den:
Cool stuff on the cutting edge
|
Hong-Kong Import Hardware
Episode 1:
| Preface: |
Okay, everybody in the GB Hardware Scene seems to have their connections with various importers, making it hard for me to keep up with the times. As a result, I found myself with two real options- I could sit back and let Hardwhere fade into the pit of averageness, or I could fight fire with fire...
So, who can I get to sponsor me?
IGN Pocket has Upstate Games- a horribly unreliable importer, run by just one guy in upstate New York (I STILL haven't gotten my order from them... nearly 6 motnhs now). There's no way they should be able to plug them with a clear conscience- I personally know many people who've been taken advantage of because of the ads on their site.
EAGB has Goldenshop- which is actually quite a decent importer, good prices and selection, but still a relatively small company.
I took a look around at who I had ordered from before, and came to the conclusion that the only importer that I really trusted www.liksang.com was the best hope for getting back into things.
So, I am pleased to announce that HardWhere? Is now proudly brought to you courtesy of www.liksang.com. Your Hong-Kong import superstore, and mine too.
Without further ado, here is the first in an ongoing set of product reviews.
As a small note,
you don't want to buy any inexpensive piece of equipment by itself, as
shipping from HK is a little expensive for small orders. The best
idea is to get a bunch of items at the same time(~5) in order to keep the
cost-per-item shipping minimal.
| Dragon Boy GBA Cartridge Cases |
I don't know about you, but when I bought my first two GBA cartridges, I was thouroughly disappointed when I opened up the box. I asked myself, "Self, where is the cartridge you just paid for? All I see is a sea of ad matterial!". After closer inspection, the cartridge was indeed found in a tiny little compartment on the side of the box- with no case.
Anyways, I think many of us would take advantage of the opportunity to get our hands on some GBA cartridge cases, and the Dragon Boy cases are the perfect solution.
Each case comes individually sealed in a clear plastic bag with a little cardboard tag at the top. Nice efficient packaging. Taking the little purple case out of the bag, it's obvious that the old GB cases were inspiration for these cases, as the little latch mechanism, and the styling looks like it was taken directly from the old design. The latch seals tightly and is quite watertight, meaning cartridges stay dust free.
The Verdict: Great little accessories
to have. These are sold in packs of 2 for $1.99, so a good addition
to any order
| Blaze Dual-Mode Link Cable |
Nintendo was smart in designing a new link cable for the GBA. Four player games requiring 3 cables and no special hardware (ie. Four-player adapter) is definitely the way to go over the old GB system. Already, there are numerous inexpensive link cables available for purchase at every store, and all of them are pretty much identical.
Some cables come with 4-heads included, designed specifically for 4-player games. Which, In my opinion, is an interesting idea but not very practical (I don't even know 3 other people who have GBA's who I come in contact wth on a daily basis).
Aside from those cables, there really isn't anything that sets one cable apart from the next. Except for this little cable from Blaze.
The Blaze cable is extra-long (a full six-feet I think), features a slim middle box, with a switch that allows the cable to be used for both GBC and GBA games! The cable worked just great in both modes, no problems whatsoever, and like I said, is long enough so that you don't have to lean forward to keep the cable from pulling out.
Anyways, it's one of the best cables I've
seen released thus far.
| Blaze Rechargeable Battery Pack |
I'm a sucker for products that add extra functionality to a basic design, and Blaze has a real knack for that.
This Particular battery pack is unlike any of the ones I've seen released in North America thus far in a Number of ways. First of all, it is the same size of the standard battery cover, and snaps in easily with no added bulk. It comes the same colors as the various GBA's too, so as long as you specify the color you want, you'll get a match.
Probably the best addition to this battery is the added AC-adapter functionality. The missing 3V port that was on the GBP and GBC is now replaced with this battery pack. When you use any standard AC adapter it charges the battery pack, while at the same time allowing you play. Also, the AC adapter can be substituted for a car adapter for the same effect on the road.
The battery itself is a pair of ram cells, capable of being recharged 500 times. Each charge lasts for a conservative 10 hours.
I really like this battery pack. I was never a fan of the ones for the GBC except for the ones that were the same size as the battery cover, so if you're anything like me, you'll find this one a keeper.
The added functionality of the AC adapter
port makes this battery pack a worthwhile purchase in itself. However,
be aware that pack DOES NOT ship with an AC adapter, so it would be a good
idea to pick one up if you don't have one that works with the GBP/GBC.
| Blaze Screen Saver: |
What we have here is a clear plastic sticker that goes on the GBA screen which is supposed to prevent the screen from getting scratched. It sounds like a great idea no?
Unfortunately, you really need to be careful when putting the sticker on, or you can end up with a ruined product reasonably easy (like what happened to me). Basically, you have to follow the instructions on the back very carefully in order to avoid problems. So, if you don't like reading instructions (like me), then you might want to stay away.
The problems arise from the fact that air can get trapped under the surface of the sticker, and it becomes necessary to use a credit card to push the bubbles out from underneath. While attempting this, the sticker got caught on itself and as a result tore.
However, when I attempted to remove the sticker and reposition it using the method in the instructions, everything worked fine (except for the previous hole).
Anyways, it's not a bad idea, but just
be careful when installing it. Another inexpensive item to add to
an order if you're curious.
| The Bottom Line: |
I've been using all of these peripherals with my GBA since I received them, and I can say that all of them are good little items, and all items are $9.00 USD or under. So, like I said, if you're in the market for any of this kind of stuff, I give it all my seal of approval (but remember that the battery pack doesn't come with an AC adapter, and the Blaze Screen Saver is fragile).
Hook yourself up with all this great stuff at www.liksang.com
Episode two coming next week....